Dear Michael Damian
and Lynne Thomas: Why Short is, indeed, Sweet
by
Livia Way
To quote Edgar Allan Poe, “A short story must have a single
effect and every sentence must build towards it.” It is possible to read this
quote two ways: a short story must have a single mood, or a short story must
have a single lesson or goal. Both—or either—of these attributes are, I
believe, essential to a successful short story. In most cases, a short story is
too short to make the reader feel more than one thing or give more than one
main lesson. If there are too many emotions in a short story it feels too
dramatic. When I read something like that, I end up feeling nothing at all
because I don’t know what I should feel. This is similar to if the author
attempts to make more than one big point in the short story. It’s better to get
one point across well than make a lot of little points that don’t stick with
the reader.
World-building is also different in short stories,
especially in SF and fantasy. It is amazing when short stories successfully
create an immersive world, and whenever I come across one it immediately draws
me in. The authors of short stories, correct me if I’m wrong, seem to spend
less time on the world-building and more time on the actual story. It takes true
talent to successfully world-build in a short story. Reading short stories,
especially SF and fantasy stories, allows the reader to imagine what the world
is like outside the story. When reading a novel this freedom is often lost, as
the author has the opportunity to explain in detail the world in which the
narrative is taking place.
Reading SF and fantasy short stories are unique in their
short yet immersive qualities. Writing short stories is a great way to grab a
reader’s attention and suck them into a SF or fantasy world where the reader is
allowed to imagine many of the details of the world. The reader is left with
one strong emotion or message (or both), one that will surely stick with them
even after they finish.
Livia,
ReplyDeleteHmm. I'm one of those English teachers who gets a little twitchy when I read claims that stories are supposed to (or even can) teach a "lesson" (insert flashbacks to Sunday school here). Perhaps it's because my first conviction is that we take OUT of stories what we bring TO them, more than taking out what they GIVE to us, if that makes any sense. In any case, I do think you're right that the author of a short story has a difficult time both building a world and a story, but for something to be sff, it really does need both. In that sense, Poe may not be totally correct, unless the story and its environment really are the SAME effect, a singularity unto themselves.
Best,
TT